LEBANON, Pa. — Three relatives of a 1-year-old boy who died in a Lebanon house fire in September have been charged with leaving the child and his siblings at home with insufficient supervision.
Jessica Miller, 25, her mother, Barbara Miller, 59, and the child's father, Brian Navarre, 28, all from Lebanon, are each charged with multiple counts of endangering the welfare of a child by Lebanon City Police.
The 1-year-old victim died of smoke inhalation during the Sept. 13 fire on the 1300 block of Brandywine Street. Barbara Miller and three other children, ages 5, 4, and 2, all sustained injuries in the blaze.
Investigators determined the 1-year-old victim was unable to be removed from his crib on the second floor when the fire broke out, charging documents state.
The investigation determined the family's home was heavily cluttered and dirty, and the children were being kept in "deplorable" conditions, according to the complaint.
Authorities said that interviews with some of the children by the Child Advocacy Center helped determine that the fire was started by the 4-year-old child, who was playing with a lighter, according to police.
After learning the cause of the fire, police spoke to the three adults living in the home.
It was learned that Barbara Miller was the only adult at home at the time of the fire, and she was unable to physically walk up and down the stairs. Police determined that the children were under inadequate supervision as a result.
The second-floor location of the crib meant Barbara Miller was unable to reach the child in time, police said.
All three adults told police they were aware of Barbara Miller's physical limitations and of the home's condition, according to charging documents.
Police filed charges on Oct. 25. All three defendants were arraigned that day. Bail was set at $250,000 each for Navarre and Jessica Miller, who are both being held in Lebanon County Prison after being unable to post bail.
Court records indicate that Barbara Miller posted her $100,000 bail.
